I started shooting trap almost forty years ago with none other than a VHE 12 30” 1 frame that I still have . Got this gun from a departed Parker accumulator named Jerry Amos from the Warrenton VA area and I still have the gun . Very shortly there after I got a used Franchi 2005 combo with a top single barrel . Not to long after that I went the Krieghoff route and put a K-80 unsingle on the K-32 I had at that time and shot the best trap scores of my life . At present my only single trap is an Ithaca Knick something or other . Tried to get a SC at a local auction a year or two ago but lost out . I suppose eventually I’ll have an SC but it just hasn’t happened yet .

I woulda bid but that 36" barrel wouldn't fit in my gun cabinet :rotf:

Craig, I set up across from Jerry Amos at the George Mason University gun show for years. I was a charter exhibitor and I was there for the last show. I had been looking at a gun on a table, can't remember what it was, but we couldn't agree on a sale. There was about two feet of snow on the ground and still falling and the guy with the gun couldn't get his car moving. I offered to trade my four wheel drive Blazer for his gun because I had another ride home. He wouldn't go for that deal.

34" Specialty grade
 

I know it's not a Parker, but it is a 34" SBT gun at a relatively good price.:corn:



https://www.cabelas.com/product/gun-...dsPerPage%3D80

Paul, what say we talk trade on one of your 7Es?

Mod choke?

I'd bet it is actually full.

Either of them a Parker?? I need a Parker SBT!!! :shock:

An old, beat SBT? Sounds like a project gun. I'll give you $500 and a shoebox full of woodchuck tails.

They are not. Both are Ithacas. A grade 4 and a grade 5.

Mike, I've put you on my short list but please don't beg.

That is a beautiful collection!!!! WOW!!!!

Paul P., do you have your own squad in PA or would you be agreeable to putting a squad of vintage single barrel shooters together for a shoot or two? We are almost neighbors, I am told. Maybe we can get Chuck to join.

What do these two people have in common? They get to shoot the same Parker Single Barrel Trap gun. Got research letter today and my SBT was ordered by Fred Gilbert. He sent it back later, but it is still cool.

Sorry the internet gremlins shrunk Fred . . . .

Mills, that is great. Could you post a picture of the research letter? And gun?

I wonder if it's the same gun Gilbert broke 589 straight with in 1919.

Here's the letter. Gun is supposed to be on the way and will post photos when it is in hand.

Gilbert owned the gun in 1919 but returned it for some reason.

Probably because he didn’t break 590.





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Ha! Funny thought but also a possibility

We need to figure out the date of Gilbert's world record straight run. There's a decent chance that this was the gun.

From the 1920 catalogue

That would be really cool! Unless he ordered or had another SBT during that time, it would have to be. The fact that he returned it for credit suggests against it though

I don't think so. He was a professional shooter and was getting lots of guns from Parker on consignment. He wasn't wed to them. It's not beyond reason to surmise he would have set the record with this gun and then sent it back. And after all, it was on consignment/loan and had to go back at some point.

I believe if we can determine Gilbert had this gun when the record was set, then that's a pretty good argument for it being the one. Of course we will never know for sure unless someone identifies it by serial number in a report or account of the shoot. And that's a long shot.

Regardless, having a Parker that was once in Fred Gilbert's hands is very cool.

Lots of good news today, of which this was a big one. The bad news is the seller was not able to get it shipped, so we wait another day

In my files I have noted Gilbert took delivery of a Parker SBT #180116... I think he was 54 years old in 1919 when he set the long run record. Have not found the date of the long run. I know it was before October of 1919

Trap3

According to D. H. Eaton, "Trapshooting, The Patriotic Sport", Fred Gilbert set the professional long run world record of 591 (571 registered targets and 20 practice targets) July 29 to August 7, 1919.

He had this gun during that time

Harry has some big shoes to fill.

Talk about "we're not worthy "

I want to see a picture of Harry shooting Gilbert's gun at Forrest City.

Forest City NC or Forest City ME ?





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Forest City Gun Club, Savannah, Ga.

That is coming, assuming his 12 year old independence cooperates

Good Parker Pages article in here somewhere. That is for sure.

Sneak preview

Have any other Fred Gilbert SBT's surfaced?

Well Gentlemen what a day. I inherited my first SBT a few years back, it is Serial #185102. About a month ago I purchased several more SBT's with the dream of shooting them. That dream happened today at the local Trap Range. I brought a couple just in case a friend of mine was so inclined to join in the fun. This is the first time I have ever shot an SBT.........first time I even shouldered the gun. What a blast. Broke 25 straight the first time out of the case. A very surreal experience...........I just love it. Birds that I should not have normally hit if I where shooting my normal gun just broke!! Amazing!! When I was on, there was nothing better. Talk about "Smashing Clays". Had such a great time and feel so awesome!! Just a great experience and so glad we made it happen. I finally convinced my buddy to shoot the other SBT I brought. We had (2) SBT's on the line..................all the local trap guys where definitely fixated on the (2) out of town guys smashing clays both with SBT's!! That time we came off the line both with 24.............not too shabby. Sure hope to meet and shoot with some of you gentlemen soon.

Great shooting. Keep carrying those Parkers to the line.

Not to throw cold water on the possibility that this Parker was the one Gilbert made the long run with, however, I KNOW trapshooters and if Gilbert did use the SBT in question in the long run, it would not have been returned! He would have purchased it before ever sending it back. For a top professional in that era, a consignment really had no time limit.

Scott Hanes